Addressing the privacy issues related to advertising technology and online tracking has been a key focus since FPF’s founding. Increasingly, the mobile advertising space, geo-location tracking, and indoor positioning technologies are at the forefront of online data management, retail, and new consumer offerings. Thus, it is not surprising that regulators, industry leaders, and advocates are taking a hard look at questions about how to appropriately collect and handle consumer data for advertising, location-based targeting, and audience measurement. Additionally, as public awareness of targeted and personalized advertising grows, organizations are pushed to deliver more helpful, relevant ads by less intrusive means. FPF curates a gallery of leading practices, provides up-to-date analysis of emerging and evolving technologies, convenes stakeholders in a monthly working group call, and works with policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders to support leading privacy practices for the use of location data.
Online Behavioral Advertising "Icon" Study
Executive Summary: In May 2009, the Future of Privacy Forum launched a research initiative to examine new methods for communicating with users about online advertising and privacy. This study assessed the communication efficacy of behavioral advertising disclosures based on icons and short disclosures placed near webpage advertisements as an alternative to providing transparency and choice […]
Flash Cookie
We have done multiple blog posts warning about mis-use of flash cookies, so we are not going to harp on the issue again. And although it is flattering to be called a watchdog, we are just a small consumer privacy and technology focused think tank focused on advancing responsible data use practices. So if you […]
Future of Privacy Forum Releases Behavioral Notices Study
Today, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) released the results of a research study which tested the effectiveness of using new icons and key phrases to provide web surfers with more transparency and choice about behavioral advertising practices. FPF launched the notices initiative in May 2009 and partnered with a number of divisions at WPP, […]
A Little ‘i’ to Teach About Online Privacy
A Little ‘i’ to Teach About Online Privacy New York Times By Stephanie Clifford January 26, 2010 A LITTLE blue symbol is carrying big implications. A mockup of an ad that includes the Power-I icon. Trying to ward off regulators, the advertising industry has agreed on a standard icon — a little “i” — that […]
Future of Privacy Forum Release Behavioral Notices Study
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2010 Media Contact:Ted Kresse 202.777.3719 [email protected] Future of Privacy Forum Releases Behavioral Notices Study Research Shows Transparency and Choice Significantly Increase Acceptance of Behavioral Ads WASHINGTON – Today, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) released the results of a research study which tested the effectiveness of using new icons and […]
Another Step Forward for Transparency…
One more step forward for transparency in the behavioral advertising world, as today Lotame Solutions launches its new preference manager. Web surfers can see the categories in their profile used for ad targeting, add or delete some of them, or opt-out. Lotame follows in the steps of DoubleClick, Yahoo, and BlueKai in taking one of […]
Folks really need to get the message about flash cookies
Flash Cookies Could Become Hot-Button Privacy Issue Wendy Davis, MediaPost Web users are not yet deleting Flash cookies as often as they shed more traditional cookies, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to use Flash technology to track consumers online. That’s according to a new report commissioned by media audit company BPA Worldwide. […]
Social Networking: Your Key to Easy Credit
Social Networking: Your Key to Easy Credit? CNBC.com By Erica Sandberg January 13, 2010 You probably don’t analyze the chatter or quality of your social media connections, but creditors may be doing just that. In their quest to identify creditworthy customers, some are tapping into the information you and your friends reveal in the virtual […]
Important Comments by the FTC Chair and the Consumer Protection Chief to the NY Times Today
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/ftc-has-internet-gone-beyond-privacy-policies/ Some key points excerpted here: “Previous commissions had looked at privacy under the framework of whether consumers were harmed, and with the basis that companies must advise consumers about what they’re doing and obtain their consent, Mr. Leibowitz said. But companies “haven’t given consumers effective notice, so they can make effective choices,” he said. […]
Take Two Targeted Ads and Call Me in the Morning
Take Two Targeted Ads and Call Me in the Morning Media Post By Steve Smith December 31, 2009 Among all of the possible messaging goals a marketer might get assigned, convincing online users that targeted advertising will be good for them has to be one of the toughest. As we have discussed in these columns, […]